Nadal faces pressure test against rival Djokovic

PARIS (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal knows he will have to find a way of dealing with Novak Djokovic's pressure game if he is going to beat his great rival and win a ninth French Open title, the Spaniard said on Friday.

Premature predictions that now might be a good time to face Nadal on the Paris clay were emphatically swept aside as he crushed Wimbledon champion Andy Murray to win their semi-final 6-3 6-2 6-1 with an awe-inspiring display.

With quick-fire forehands, strong serves and accurate groundstrokes, Nadal did almost everything right to reach Sunday's showpiece where Serbia's world number two awaits.

"I need to be able to manage the pressure because he puts a lot of pressure on me and I rush on my returns," Nadal told reporters.

Ever the perfectionist, he knows he still has to fine-tune a few details before Sunday's final.

"I have started preparing quite well over the last few days. I have prepared quite a lot," said Nadal who did not concede a single break point against Murray.

"I need to improve my return a bit more. Today I managed to have my backhand a bit better than before. I need to be a bit more patient."

Nadal, hoping to become the first man to win five consecutive French Open titles, showed signs of nerves in the early claycourt season, losing three matches on his favorite surface - a first in the run-up to Roland Garros.
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